They are the best of the best. The players wanted by every program and destined to make a big impact at the college level and beyond.

Rivals.com has identified the first five-star prospects for the 2014 class and is unveiling them this week. Ten prospects have been awarded five-stars but are not ranked at this time, and we will profile two each day.

As it is the time to look forward it is equally appropriate to look back at those recruits who earned the prestigious ranking in recent history.

Here's a rundown of how each of the five-star prospects from the past three signing classes has fared. Each player's name is linked to his Rivals.com prospect profile which includes high school video.

Buzz: Green-Beckham has worked his way into the rotation at Missouri, hauling in 20 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown. He has appeared in eight games, starting none, but was also suspended a game for marijuana.

Buzz: Humphries earned his first start of the season last week against Missouri, but has played regularly for the Gators this season. Before his start, Humphries was used mostly in a rotation with Xavier Nixon as well as in jumbo sets as an extra blocker.

Buzz: Used sparingly this season, Edwards has appeared in four games and has only two assisted tackles and zero solo tackles. In the Oct. 20 game against Miami, Edwards registered a half-sack, combining with Bjoern Werner to take down Stephen Morris. The original plan was for Edwards to redshirt but injuries changed that plan early in the season.

Buzz: Thompson has played in every game since arriving on campus, locked into his role of the nickle back for the Huskies. He has totaled 51 tackles (31 solo) and a sack. Thompson also has a sack and two interceptions. His season highlight was an eight-tackle, one-INT performance against Oregon.

Buzz: Gray played mostly as a reserve running back for the first seven games, but made his first start against Kansas. He is second on the Longhorns in rushing yards with 427. In his first start, he had 111 yards against the Jayhawks and followed it up with 108 yards in a victory over Texas Tech. He might have cemented himself as the primary back.

Buzz: Bullard is receiving regular playing time on the defensive line, appearing in all nine games. He has made 20 tackles (11 solo) and has registered 1.5 sacks. His five quarterback hurries leads the team.

Buzz: Diggs has delivered in a big way, leading the team in receptions with 43 and with 721 yards, nearly doubling anyone else's total. He has been the team's primary kick and punt returner, totaling nearly 800 yards in special teams, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. In a season marred by injuries at Maryland, Diggs has been nothing short of brilliant.

Buzz: Yeldon is leading the Crimson Tide in rushing with 725 yards on 104 carries and seven touchdowns. His season highlight was a 28-yard screen catch and run for a touchdown to defeat LSU in a nationally televised showdown. The catch, which may be the signature play of the season for Alabama, was only the eighth reception for Yeldon and his only receiving TD.

Buzz: Williams has appeared in every game this season, although he hasn't started. He is fourth on the team in rushing with 240 yards on 49 carries and has caught nine passes for 148 yards. Williams has also been used the primary kick returner, averaging 25 yards per return on 17 attempts.

Buzz: In an extremely talented receiving corps, Agholor is fourth with 14 catches and 269 yards. He has a 76-yards score on his resume as well. Agholor was given one carry and five chances to return kickoffs, which has added 128 yards to his all-purpose numbers.

Buzz: Theus has been on the field since arriving on campus, becoming the first true freshman to start on the offensive line at Georgia since Trinton Sturdivant in 2007. He has helped push the rushing attack and helped the Bulldogs climb to No. 5 in the BCS polls.

Buzz: Duke Johnson leads the Hurricanes in rushing yards with 555 through nine games. He is sharing time in the backfield with Mike James, and the two have combined to eclipse 1,000 yards. Johnson has caught 23 passes for 200 yards and a score. He has also been the primary kickoff returner with 18 attempts and 565 yards. His 95-yard return for a score was a season highlight.

Buzz: In his second season at South Carolina, Clowney is again proving his No. 1 status. He has 40 tackles on the year (28 solo) and has 8.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss. Clowney collected eight sacks and forced five fumbles to earn Yahoo! Sports/Rivals.com first-team Freshman All-America honors.

Buzz: Grant has yet to live up to the hype at Ohio State. In his sophomore season, he has just eight tackles in eight games. Much like his freshman season, he has struggled to work his way up the depth chart.

Buzz: With a crowded roster at the position, Farmer has been nearly invisible. This season he has just one catch for seven yards. Farmer was expected to redshirt his freshman season, but he made his college debut Oct. 13 against California. He showed his versatility in scant playing time by rushing for 15 yards on five carries, catching four passes for 42 yards and returning three kickoffs for 59 yards.

Buzz: Building off of a strong freshman season, Thomas is continuing his impact at Oregon. Through nine games, he has 508 yards while backing up Kenjon Barner. As a freshman he rushed for 595 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 10.8 yards per carry. He caught 46 passes for 605 yards and nine touchdowns. He also scored on two kickoff returns and averaged 27.3 yards per attempt. He scored from 91 yards out and 64 yards away in his only two carries in Oregon's Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin.

Buzz: The graduation of Will Blackwell allowed Collins to compete for and earn a starting role this season. He was namede Most Improved out of spring drills and has displayed all of his tools this season.

Buzz: The graduation of SS Mark Barron allowed Clinton-Dix to compete for a starting role in 2012. In nine games this season, he has 20 tackles and two interceptions. He has four passes defended as well. Clinton-Dix made 11 tackles and broke up two passes as a reserve safety as a freshman, but has increased his playing time and impact as a sophomore.

Buzz: Drew is second on the two-deep at right defensive end and has played in eight games making seven tackles. Last season he had eight tackles -- 3.5 for loss -- and one fumble recovery in a backup role.

Buzz: After being named to the preseason Maxwell Award watch list, his season was derailed by injury again. Brown had two solid season games this year against Wyoming and Ole Miss, totaling more than 100 yards in each. He hasn't played in four weeks and may have been passed by true freshman Johnathan Gray. Brown rushed for a team-high 707 yards and five touchdowns despite missing three games with injuries as a freshman.

Buzz: With an injury to Chris Thompson, Wilder has been afforded the opportunity to step up. He has totalled 448 yards in nine games this season and has eight rushing touchdowns. Wilder rushed for 160 yards and one touchdown on 35 carries as a freshman.

Buzz: After being declared academically ineligible for the 2011 season, Metoyer enrolled at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy. He has had relatively low impact during his first year, making just 15 catches in seven games for 120 yards and one score.

Buzz: Working back from an ACL injury that ended his freshman season after five games, Steward has played sparingly for Clemson. He has only charted 54 snaps and just 16 tackles in nine games this year.

Buzz: After rushing for 219 yards and one touchdown on 46 carries during his freshman season, Williams announced in December that he planned to transfer to Texas A&M. He is sitting this season out per NCAA transfer rules.

Buzz: Watkins was the Yahoo! Sports/Rivals.com national freshman of the year and was the third true freshman in NCAA history to get selected as a first-team All-American by The Associated Press (the others were Georgia's Herschel Walker in 1980 and Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson in 2004). Watkins caught 82 passes for 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also rushed for 231 yards on 32 carries. This season he has been well accounted for, as he is 14th in the conference with 501 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Buzz: Much like his freshman year, Williams is being used as a reserve at the linebacker position. In nine games this year, he has just 15 tackles (seven solo). Williams made six tackles as a reserve outside linebacker his freshman season.

Buzz: Johnson has made three starts as a sophomore and has appeared in all nine games. He has 25 tackles and eight tackles for a loss. Johnson didn't make any starts as a true freshman, but he played in each of LSU's 14 games and recorded 12 tackles -- three for loss -- and one sack.

Buzz: Landry has yet to start a game for LSU, but leads the team with 31 receptions. He is second on the team with 292 yards and has two of the team's eight receiving touchdowns. He has had minor appearances on special teams, returning one punt and four kickoffs. Landry made four catches for 43 yards in a backup role as a freshman.

Buzz: Hart sat out his freshman season to recover from surgery after injuring his right knee in a summer workout, and may have missed a chance to shine. He has appeared in five games for the Tide this year and has just 21 carries for 88 yards. The emergence of T.J. Yeldon may make Hart a role player.

Buzz: Frost missed his freshman season after undergoing shoulder surgery in July. He tore his labrum during a summer weightlifting session. Now listed as on the two-deep at the weakside linebacker position, Frost has only made one tackle in seven appearances this year.

Buzz: Johnson is fifth in tackles through nine games with 44 (20 solo) and leads the team with 3.5 sacks. He has also blocked a kick. Johnson compiled 32 tackles -- four for loss -- and one sack as a freshman.

Buzz: One of the most disruptive players on an active Fighting Irish defense, Tuitt leads the team with 10 sacks and is second with nine quarterback hurries. He has added 35 tackles (18 solo) as well. As a freshman Tuitt delivered 30 tackles -- three for loss -- and two sacks despite sitting out four games.

Buzz: Crowell rushed for 850 yards and five touchdowns to lead Georgia in both categories as a freshman. In the offseason, he was dismissed from the team following three weapons charges and enrolled at Alabama State. He has 555 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

Buzz: In his second season on campus, Anthony is making his impact felt, collecting 64 tackles (41 solo) and 3.5 tackles for a loss. Both totals are good for second on the team. He has played 410 snaps for the Tigers and started six games.

Buzz: Bellamy was dismissed from Clemson after being declared academically ineligible and enrolled at East Mississippi Community College. There, he was promptly dismissed for violation of team rules. Now at Eastern Arizona College, he has just 50 yards on 15 carries this season and is largely irrelevant. Bellamy rushed for 343 yards and three touchdowns on 57 carries as a freshman at Clemson.

Buzz: Lyerla is being used sparingly in the explosive Ducks offense. On the season, he has 13 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown. He has also caught 13 passes for 202 yards and four scores. Lyerla caught seven passes for 147 yards and five touchdowns as a backup tight end his freshman year.

Buzz: Powell tore his ACL in the Florida spring game and will miss the season. Powell recorded a team-high six sacks to go along with 32 overall stops and nine tackles for loss as a sophomore in a hybrid end/outside linebacker position. He had made 16 tackles as a backup as a true freshman.

Buzz: After starting at right tackle as a true freshman and earning second-team Freshman All-America honors from Rivals.com, Henderson battled injuries for much of his sophomore season. He had back surgery in August, played just eight games and made only two starts. After an offseason of turmoil, it appears that Henderson has put some of his issues behind him and is starting to regain his form at right tackle.

Buzz: Floyd is blossoming this season, making 35 tackles (21 solo) and 10 tackles for loss on the season. Floyd started 11 games at defensive end as a sophomore and made 46 tackles, with 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He made 23 tackles -- eight for loss -- and two starts as a true freshman in 2010.

Buzz: Although he was listed as a defensive back during the recruiting process, Allen has emerged as a star receiver for Cal. He has 61 receptions for 737 yards and six scores this season and has rushed the ball three times for 39 yards. He caught 98 passes for 1,343 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore to earn first-team All Pac-12 honors.

Buzz: Continuing a stellar career at USC, Wood has 59 catches this season and 656 yards. He has also pulled in 10 touchdowns. Woods had caught 176 passes for 2,084 yards and 21 touchdowns through his first two seasons at USC. He set a Pac-12 single-season record as a sophomore with 111 receptions. He also had 1,292 receiving yards and 15 touchdown catches as a sophomore and was named one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation's top receiver.

Buzz: Recovering from an ACL injury, Easley has been used sparingly in seven games this season. He has made 15 tackles (seven solo) and has 2.5 sacks. Easley made 37 tackles, with 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, as a starter in 2011 after playing six games and making just four tackles in 2010.

Buzz: After making six starts and 10 tackles -- four for loss -- as a true freshman, Odighizuwa started one game and made 21 tackles as a sophomore. He has not cracked the starting lineup this season but has 22 tackles (15 solo) in eight games playing in a rotation. He has two sacks.

Buzz: Rogers was dismissed from Tennessee before this season and enrolled at Tennessee Tech. On the year he has caught 50 passes for 765 yards, leading the team in both categories. At UT, Rogers delivered a breakthrough performance in 2011, with 67 catches for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns. Rogers was a first-team All-SEC selection by The Associated Press and a second-team pick by the league's coaches. He caught 11 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns in 2010 as a true freshman.

Buzz: Lattimore rushed for 1,197 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2010 to carry South Carolina to an SEC East title as a true freshman. He ran for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns through the first seven games of the 2011 season, before an injury to his left knee ended his season. Injuries continued as a junior as Lattimore suffered a career-threatening right knee injury in the nith game of the season. He had carried the ball 143 times for 673 yards and 11 scores before being carted off.

Buzz: After rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons at Auburn, Dyer announced he would transfer to Arkansas State. He was dismissed from Arkansas State before playing a single snap and is now at Arkansas Baptist College and not playing football. He will be eligible for the NFL Draft come April. Dyer ran for 1,093 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman in 2010. He rushed for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Buzz: Jeffcoat started the first six games of the season at defensive end and was on pace for a solid season with 11 tackles for loss and four sacks before suffering a season-ending injury. Jeffcoat emerged as a disruptive force as a sophomore and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors. He had 7.5 sacks, with all of them coming in the last seven games of the season, and added two sacks in a Holiday Bowl victory over California.

Buzz: Crisp doubled his start count opening the season as the main man at left tackle, but has missed time with a back injury since. Crisp made three starts through his first two seasons. He started two games at right tackle as a sophomore, including the Belk Bowl victory over Louisville. Although he was in a backup role for most of the season, he earned ample playing time and was on the field for 298 snaps during the regular season.

Buzz: As a junior, Joyner has emerged as one of the best safeties in the country. In nine games this season, he has 29 tackles (16 solo), four pass breakups and five passes defended. After spending his freshman year as a reserve cornerback, Joyner moved into the starting lineup at safety as a sophomore and earned second-team All-ACC honors. Joyner had 54 tackles and four interceptions this season. His 77-yard kickoff return helped spark FSU's come-from-behind victory over Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Buzz: Anderson arrived at Miami intending to compete for the Hurricanes in football and track. But he left the football team in October 2010 because he was upset about his lack of playing time. Anderson had tried to land at Cincinnati, East Mississippi Community College and Hutchinson Community College before settling at Eastern Arizona College. This season he has nine tackles in four games and has not jump-started his career as everyone expected.

Buzz: Hicks started the first three games of the season at weakside linebacker. He had eight tackles versus Wyoming and increased his total to 12 tackles in a game against New Mexico. He left the game versus Ole Miss with a hip injury and has yet to return to action. Hicks made 51 tackles his sophomore season after recording 23 tackles in a reserve role as a true freshman.

Buzz: Baxter garnered plenty of attention in 2010 with a spectacular run in spring practice that made him a YouTube sensation, but he couldn't create similar highlights during the regular season. After running for 252 yards on 59 attempts in 2010, Baxter had just nine carries for 29 yards in 2011. He left the team in midseason and transfered to Baker University. Through eight games at Baker, the former five-star has 579 yards rushing on 120 carries and four touchdowns.

Buzz: Martin, an Oakland native, announced in July 2010 that he was transferring from California because he was encountering too many distractions in the Bay Area. He landed at Florida, but left the Gators in the summer of 2011 for Navarro College, a junior college in Corsicana, Texas. He then left Navarro and his whereabouts are unknown.

Buzz: In a crowded backfield, Ware has carried the ball 69 times this season for 286 yards, which is the third-most carries on the team but fifth-most yards. After running for 175 yards and a touchdown on 24 attempts as a freshman, Ware gained 707 yards on 177 carries as a sophomore. Ware's sophomore season included a 109-yard, two-touchdown performance against Florida.

Buzz: Jones is leading the Seminoles in tackles with 55 total (33 solo), including six for a loss. He has also recovered a two fumbles and scored a touchdown. As a sophomore, Jones ranked third on the team with 56 total tackles, including six behind the line of scrimmage. Jones made 18 tackles in a reserve role as a true freshman.

Buzz: Building off of a solid sophomore campaign, Gholston has 40 tackles so far this season -- 10.5 for a loss -- and two sacks. Gholston made 70 tackles -- 16 for loss -- and five sacks for the Spartans as a sophomore after making just 13 stops as a freshman.

Buzz: After being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the spring of 2010, Coleman didn't enroll in school until January 2011. He didn't play in 2011. As a redshirt freshman from the Class of 2010, Coleman is listed second on the two-deep behind Greg Robinson at the left tackle position.

Buzz: After seeing the field as a starter as both a freshman and sophomore, the spot in the secondary had been ready-made for Milliner to step into. On the year, he has 34 tackles (23 solo) and has a team-leading 15 passes defended. Milliner has added 1.5 sacks, blocked a kick, and forced a fumble. He made 11 starts as a true freshman and recorded 55 tackles, seven pass breakups and one interception. He made six starts as a sophomore and had 27 tackles, three interceptions and nine pass breakups.

Buzz: Ambles made just one catch during a USC career that was beset by off-field issues. He was suspended indefinitely midway through the 2010 season. After returning to the team, Ambles was declared academically ineligible for the 2011 season. He withdrew from school last summer and enrolled at Arizona Western Community College.

Buzz: Building on a solid sophomore campaign, Elam has continued to raise his stock. This season he is third on the team with 47 tackles (34 solo) from his position in the secondary. He also leads the team with three interceptions and has six tackles for loss. Last year, Elam led the Gators in tackles for loss (11) and pass breakups (seven) as a sophomore and he also ranked second on the team with 78 overall tackles. He made 22 tackles as a freshman while working primarily in a nickelback role.

Buzz: After redshirting in 2010, Seastrunk announced that he was transferring to Baylor. Seastrunk sat out the 2011 season and made his debut for the Bears this fall. So far this season he has carried the ball 46 times for 284 yards and a touchdown. He has added 95 yards receiving and 13 on kickoff returns.